Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket is very easy and cooks to a juicy, tender consistency with fantastic flavor. A great vegetable trick ensures firm, cooked vegetables making an easy full dinner recipe!
Making Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket is so easy and also tenderizes the brisket faster thanks to pressure cooking.
A special twist gives great flavor and tenderizes it further: cooking the Instant Pot Corned Beef in beer!
Though not a traditional Irish recipe to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, it is a popular American recipe for the holiday and for good reason!
Jump to:
- What is Corned Beef Brisket?
- Ingredients in Instant Pot Corned Beef with Vegetables
- What Beer to Use for Instant Pot Corned Beef ?
- Tips for Preparing Instant Pot Corned Beef
- The Instant Pot I Use
- Love Corned Beef Brisket? Buy it Now!
- How to Make Instant Pot Corned Beef – Step by Step:
- Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need to Know!
- More recipes you’ll love!
- Recipe
What is Corned Beef Brisket?
Corned Beef Brisket is a brine-cured beef brisket. The brining adds both flavor and makes it very pink in color.
Once cooked the corned beef has a perfect texture for slicing and eating as a main dish or thinly for sandwiches.
Corned Beef brisket is sold pre-packaged in brine with a specific seasoning packet to cook with it giving it a signature flavor.
Once cooked the Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket has a mixture of salty, meaty, and tangy flavors thanks to the brining and cooking processes.
Ingredients in Instant Pot Corned Beef with Vegetables
The addition of vegetables make this a full meal in one pot.
The ingredient list for this recipe is short and simple:
- 2-3 pound Corned Beef Brisket
- Yellow Onion
- Garlic Cloves
- Dark Ale (recommendations below)
- 1 Seasoning Packet that comes with the corned beef
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- 6 qt Instant Pot
Please check the recipe card below for specifics.
What Beer to Use for Instant Pot Corned Beef ?
I recommend using a dark beer for this recipe. Guinness is a perfect choice.
If gluten-free: I used Green’s Gluten-Free Dubbel Dark Ale.
If Holidaily Brewing Co. gluten-free beers are available in your area, Riva Stout is a a great choice.
Note for Non-Beer Drinkers
For those of you who are not into beer, the Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket does not come out TASTING like beer so never fear.
You also can’t get drunk from eating it.
Substitution Option: If you feel strongly about not using beer you can substitute water or chicken stock (beef stock is very strong tasting and I think will affect the end flavor of the brisket).
Tips for Preparing Instant Pot Corned Beef
Corned beef brisket is a saltier, fattier cut of meat.
When you buy it, it will have already been brined and the liquid in the package is brine as well.
The brined brisket should be thoroughly rinsed before cooking. It can also be soaked for an hour before cooking to release even more salt.
If you have a very fatty cut, you can trim the excess fat before cooking (it’s easy to trim after cooking too).
Also place the fatty side down in the Instant Pot.
I chose to cook the brisket in beer which I have found makes it more tender and flavorful.
The Instant Pot I Use
(Because you asked….) I use this Instant Pot
Love Corned Beef Brisket? Buy it Now!
With St. Patrick’s Day coming soon corned beef brisket is available in most grocery stores.
Did you know most stores do not carry it year-round?
If you love corned beef brisket, buy extra and stick it in your freezer now so you can make Instant Pot Corned Beef ANYtime!
How to Make Instant Pot Corned Beef – Step by Step:
Cooking Instant Pot Corned Beef is so easy!
Please refer to the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
- Add the rack to the insert of a 6 quart Instant Pot
- Cover the rack with onions cut into wedges and garlic.
- Place the corned beef brisket fatty side down on top of the vegetables
- Sprinkle the spices that came with the brisket on top of the corned beef.
- Pour the beer (gluten-free or regular) around the brisket in the Instant Pot.
- Seal the lid and cook the brisket at High Pressure for 90 minutes.
- Do a quick release and remove the brisket to rest.
- Add the prepared carrots and potatoes to the Instant Pot; and cook on Manual High Pressure for three minutes.
- Remove the vegetables and slice the brisket for serving!
TIP: Adding the vegetables just at the end ensures they are cooked but still firm and delicious!
Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need to Know!
After developing Instant Pot recipes for the past few years, I’ve uncovered some unexpected, useful tips I think you’ll want to know!
Sign-Up below and I’ll tell you all my Instant Pot secrets!
No Instant Pot? No Problem!
For those who have not jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon, this Slow Cooker Beer-Simmered Corned Beef and Vegetables recipe is also fantastic way to prepare it.
More recipes you’ll love!
Recipe
Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 pound Corned Beef Brisket
- 1 medium Yellow Onion peeled and cut into wedges
- 3 Garlic Cloves peeled and chopped
- 1 ½ cups (12 fluid ounces) Dark Ale (I used Green’s Gluten-Free Dubbel Dark Ale; if not gluten-free I suggest Guinness)
- 1 Seasoning Packet that comes with the corned beef
- 2 (1 pound) Potatoes peeled and cubed into 1-inch cubes
- 2 large Carrots peeled and cut into 1 ½-inch lengths
- 6 qt Instant Pot
Instructions
Cooking the Corned Beef Brisket
- Insert the rack into the Instant Pot.
- Add the onion and garlic to the 6-quart Instant Pot distributing it evenly on the bottom.
- Remove the Corned Beef Brisket from the package, reserve the spice packet and rinse the meat thoroughly.
- Place the brisket in the Instant Pot on the lift-out rack (if there is a fattier side put that facing down) on top of the onions and garlic and sprinkle the seasonings evenly on top of the brisket and around it in the pot.
- Pour in the beer around the edges of the Instant Pot (to keep the spices on the brisket in place).
- Add the lid to the Instant Pot, select MANUAL High Pressure (default pressure setting) and 90 minutes.
- When done, do a QUICK RELEASE of the pressure, remove the brisket, brush the seasoning from the top of the brisket (more difficult to remove when it has cooled) and allow to rest.
Cooking the Vegetables
- Add the potatoes (on the bottom) and carrots (on top of the potatoes) to the Instant Pot.
- Seal and select MANUAL for 3 minutes on High Pressure.
- When done do a QUICK RELEASE and remove vegetables with a slotted spoon.
To Serve
- Slice the Corned Beef across the grain and serve on a platter with the vegetables. The cooking juices may be spooned over the meat to keep it moist.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published March 2, 2017
Claudia krusch says
Oh wow! It looks so good! I need to get an Instant Pot so I can make it asap!
Jonna says
I’m so glad I saw this before St. Patrick’s Day. I always want to do a fun meal but never seem to look ahead of time to get the ingredients. This looks so easy, I can’t wait to try it!
Toni Dash says
It definitely is Jonna! It’s a fun way to acknowledge the holiday without spending loads of time doing it.
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
Oh wow! This looks so delicious! I need to get an Instant Pot so I can make this asap!
Patty says
I’m getting an instant pot in the next couple of weeks for review just in time for St. Pat’s so perhaps this will be my first recipe! I do love corned beef. I’m going to have to start somewhere, right?
Toni Dash says
Yay Patty! Perfect timing. Oh and Patty? PUT YOUR SEAL IN THE LID OF YOUR NEW INSTANT POT! No one else has to have the fun lesson I described in this post; I took one for the team LOL!
Lena B says
Oh, delish! What a great dish – perfect for the big celebration!
Dawn Lopez says
I’ve never made a Corned Beef Brisket before but this recipe sounds so easy and full of flavor! I can’t wait to try it out. Instant pots are such a great way to cook family meals quickly.
Anne Parris says
I think the Instant Pot was made to cook a brisket. I’m in love with my IP and use it most nights. My oven is getting lonely!
Toni Dash says
I completely understand that Anne. I’m in that ‘new toy’ phase where I’m searching for things to make in it I find it so magical.
Tara says
I love all the delish Irish food associated with St. Patrick’s Day. I can’t wait to have corned beef. Now I just need an Instant Pot.
Marcie W. says
This brisket looks amazing and super juicy! It is absolutely the perfect St. Patrick’s Day meal.
Crystal says
Would you believe I’ve never made corned beef? My Irish ancestors would be thoroughly disappointed, I’m sure. Making it in an instant pot sounds like the perfect route to go to try it.
Toni Dash says
Time to change that Crystal! I’d want the luck of the Irish (ancestors) back on my side if I were you! Actually a little secret? This really is an American dish. Perhaps developed my Irish-Americans but my research and chats with friends in Ireland has said this is not a typical St. Patrick’s Day recipe there. It’s certainly THE dish for St. Patrick’s Day here and this version is delicious!